|
Sooke
Sooke is located 39 km (24 miles) north of Victoria on Sooke Road
and 71 km (44 miles) south of Port Renfrew
by the West Coast Highway-Hwy 14.
Logging
and Fishing
Sooke is a small community that historically relied on forestry
and fishing for their economic livelihood. Driving through the town
of Sooke Road there is a large woodcarving of a woodsman that celebrates
this past.
Sooke
Region Museum
The Sooke Region Museum highlights this history and is situated
on the west side of the Sooke River Bridge on Sooke Road at Phillips
Roads. You won't miss it; just look for the reconstructed lighthouse
at the Phillips Road-Sooke Road intersection and traffic light.
The Sooke Region Museum is situated right next door on Phillips
Road.
New
Subdivisions
Sooke today has a lot of young families moving in with new subdivisions
and housing projects being built throughout. The town is young and
is reflected with newer schools, larger grocery stores, and more
conveniences with a fairly new recreation centre that features a
25-metre pool called the SEAPARC Leisure Complex.
Sooke
Basin
Sooke is situated on a slight hill next to a large sheltered harbour
called the Sooke Basin. The Sooke view is towards an area called
East Sooke - a large mass that wraps around the Sooke Basin. To
enter Sooke Basin by water, you'll have to pass through a narrow
passage called Sooke Inlet.
Whiffin
Spit Beach
To really understand how narrow Sooke Inlet is and the closeness
Sooke is to East Sooke, try and make a trip to Whiffin Spit. Here
you can find a thin sand isthmus that stretches out, narrowing the
entrance to Sooke Basin. There is a real nice flat walking trail
that goes along the side of the beach out to the end of Whiffin
Spit.
Sooke
Harbour House
You can find Whiffin Spit Road on the west side of Sooke off West
Coast Road. When you arrive at Whiffin Spit you'll see the world-class
restaurant called the Sooke Harbour House. Always a crowd favourite
for the fine food and wines served, the Sooke Harbour House is sure
to please.
Ed
Macgregor Park
The Ed Macgregor Park is another good area to visit that can offer
you panoramic views of the ocean waterfront inside the Sooke Harbour.
The large parking lot is located on the west side of Sooke just
past Otter Point Road on West Coast Road before Whiffin Spit Road.
Ed Macgregor Park also features a beautiful surrounding garden,
flower arrangements and a number of beautifully crafted stone benches.
Excellent
Ocean Fishing
Sooke is home to some excellent ocean fishing especially for salmon
during most of the year. You can find a number of marinas located
along the waterfront with fishing guides readily available, if required.
If you have your own boat and RV, Sunny Shores Resort & Marina
have available sites.
Sooke
Potholes Regional Park
One other park that is a must to see if you happen to visit Sooke
is the Sooke Potholes Regional Park. Operated by the TLC (The Land
Conservatory) Sooke Potholes Regional Park is located at the end
of Sooke River Road and features a campground, access to the Galloping
Goose Regional Trail and the Sooke
Potholes swimming holes.
T'Sou'ke
First Nation
This part of the Sooke River is considered very sacred by the T'Sou'ke
First Nation - the area's native community.
Galloping
Goose Regional Trail
Access to the Galloping Goose Regional Trail can also be found just
east of Sooke at Cooper's Cove where you can find a small parking
lot. From here you can either cycle or walk along the Sooke Basin
to Roche Cove and Matheson Lake Regional Park to the south-east
or to the Sooke Potholes and farther west to Leechtown.
Rush
Adventures
Also situated at Cooper's Cove is an area to find some great kayaking
into the Sooke Basin where you can gain easy access into Anderson
Cove. There is a business available at Cooper's Cove that has guiding
services and lessons available plus rentals called Rush Adventures.
The Fuse Waterfront Grill is located next door if you're hungry.
Sooke
River Bluegrass Festival
A good time for you to visit Sooke is in mid-June not only for the
fishing but also for the Sooke River Bluegrass Festival as well.
Situated right next to the Sooke River the festival features excellent
local bluegrass performers from Sooke and other parts of British
Columbia.
Restaurants
and Cafés
There are also a large number of eating and places to find refreshments
in Sooke. In town, near the corner of Otter Point and Sooke Road,
you can discover a Sooke icon - Mom's Café plus a Serious
Coffee, A&W Hamburgers, Stone Pipe Grill, Route 14 and a McDonalds.
Beverages
Then, for beverages, there are Buffy's Pub at 6858 West Coast Road
and the Sooke River Hotel featuring the Castle Pub and Chinese Food
situated back at the Sooke River Bridge, plus the Sooke Brewing
Company and a favourite coffee shop called The Stick in the Mud
Coffee House.
East
Sooke Regional Park
There are some interesting and beautiful places nearby to Sooke
including East Sooke. To get here you have to travel south-east
past Cooper's Cove towards Metchosin to Gillespie Road. Take Gillespie
Road to East Sooke Road and a little farther away at the west end
of East Sooke, you can find East Sooke Regional Park. Along the
way you'll pass Roche Cove Regional Park with the Galloping Goose
Regional Trail access.
Jordan
River and Port Renfrew
If you have the time, take the trip from Sooke to Port Renfrew along
the West Coast Highway-Hwy 14. The ocean scenery is beautiful and,
located near the halfway point, is Jordan
River home to some great surfing if you enjoy the sport. French
Beach Provincial Park and Point-No-Point-Resort are located along
the way.
Information
on Sooke
Adventure
|
